Match-safe and cigar-cutter



(No Model.) j I .2 Shets-Sheet 1.

G. F; H. HICKS.-

MATCH SAFE AND )IG'AR CUTTER.

No; 491,841. Patented Feb. 14, 1893.

INVENTOR 755% B) MW+ .1/

ATTORNEYS.

(No Mode 1 I 2 She etsSheet"2.

. v G. F. H. HICKS.

MATCH SAFE AND CIGAR CUTTER.

No. 491,841 Patented Feb, 14; 1893.

Q g 37 a0 I a U 6'8 7 k N:

I' .IV 6'11 -wmvEssEsf f INVENTOH =7 gawaz/ W L/ILM@ ATTORNEYS.

m: maams PETERS 00.. wom-uma. wAsnm'cmu, n. e

NITE TATES GEORGE F. H. HICKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MATCH-SAFE AND CIGAR-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,841, dated February14, 1893.

Application filed October 10, 1892. $erial No. 448,358. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. H. HICKS, of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Matcl1-Safeand Cigar-Cutter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to improvements in match safes and cigar cutters,and the object of my invention is to produce a convenient safe which hasa cigar cutting attachment connected therewith, which carries thematches in such a way that they can only be taken one by one fromthecase, thus preventing people from carrying them off by thehandful, as isfrequently done when the safe is arranged in a public place, toconstruct and arrange a pick which will automatically lift a singlematch from the safe, to provide means for automatically striking thematch as it is lifted from the safe so that it will be delivered in alighted condition, to arrange the scratcher so that it may be thrown outof use and an unlighted match delivered if desired, and in general toproduce a safe which is adapted to operate positively in the mannerspecified and which will not easily get out of order.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of constructionand combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of the safe on the line 11 inFig. 4; Fig. 2 is asectional end view on the line 2-2 in Fig. 4, showingthe match carrier and pick in an elevated position; Fig. 3 is a similarsection to that shown in Fig. 2, but with the carrier and pickdepressed; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on the line 44 in Fig. 1; and Fig.5 is a plan View tities, or tampering with the safe. back portion of thesafe is the match box proper, which has a forwardly-inclined floor 13extending downward from the back of the case or box 10, and this fioormerges in an upwardly extending sh elf or ledge 14 which forms thelowerfront portion of the matchbox, and the match box is thus made to have atroughlike bottom in which the matches will collect, and the pick beingarranged to strike in the center of the box, as hereinafter described,will thus be able to pick up the last match in the box. The upper frontportion of the box is formed by a longitudinally and slightlyrearwardly-inclined partition 16 which is held immediately beneath thecover 12 and is carried by the ends 15 of the match box. An opening isleft between the upper edge of the lower front portion 14 of the box andthe lower edge of the partition 16, through which open- In the ing thepick passes when swinging down or up. The pick 17 is pivoted on one endof the box, as shown at 18, and near the front portion of the box, thepick extending upward as shown best in Fig. 1, then extending laterally,parallel with the sides of the box, as shown at 19, and it is again bentupward and rear-v ward at a right angle, as shown at 20, and is finallybent again at a right angle, as shown at 21 in Fig. 2, this terminalbend 21 serving as the pick proper and having diverging pointed jaws 22which are adapted to stick into a match so as to enable it to be liftedfrom the match box.

The pick andt'he match carrier, which will be hereinafter described, areactuated by a vertically swinging handle 23 which moves in a slot 23 inthe front of the case 10, and the rear end of the handle is pivoted on arod 24 which extends longitudinally through the case near the bottom.The handle 23 connects with the pick 17 by means of a link 25 which thetension of the spring will be increased and when the pressure is removedfrom the handle, the reaction of the spring throws the handle back toits former position.

Above the pick and in the path of the elbow formed at the junction ofthe parts 20 and 21, is a swinging plate or pawl 30, which is fulcrumedon the free edge of a bracket arm 31 which extends forward from thebracket 32, the latter being secured to the partition 16, as shown bestin Figs. 2 and 4. The bracket 32 has also parallel arms which extendforward and downward and whichopcrate to strike the match raised by thepick and force it from the jaws of the pick so as to permit it to dropback in position to be received by the carrier, as herei 11 afterdescribed. A rod 34 is carried at the upper edge of the swinging plateor pawl 30, the rod extending outward from the ends of the pawl, asshown in Fig. 1, and the wire atits outer portions is bent downward andrearward, as shown at 35, and the free ends bent downward and forward,as shown at 36; these ends serving as guides upon which a match runs andbeing adapted to deliver the match intothe upper troughlike portions 37of the blocks 37, which blocks are seen red to the base 11 of themachine, and the carrier which raises the match from the blocks isadapted to move downward between them and grasp a match, as hereinafterdescribed. This carrier is provided with a swinging arm 38 which swingson a shaft 39 extending longitudinally through the back portion of thecase 10 and the arm swings in a transverse slot 40 in the top or cover12.

The slot 40 merges in a longitudinal slot 41 through which the carrierproper moves, as described below.

The carrier arm 38 is connected with the handle 23 by a connecting rod42, the upper end of the rod being pivoted, as shown at 43, to the arm38 near the pivoted end of the arm so as to give sufiicient throw to it,and the lower end of the rod 42 is connected with the handle 23 by astud 44 which projects through a slot 45 in the rod. The slot 45 andstud 44 permit the handle to move slightly in relation to the connectingrod 42, so that when the handle is depressed to pick up a match, thepick, when the match box is full, will strike a match, and the carrierat the same time will be pressed down as far as it will go, but ifnecessary, the handle may be pressed sufficiently far down to carry thepick to the bottom of the box. The connecting rod is normally pulleddownward, so that the stud 44 will be held in the upper portion of theslot 45, by a spring 46 which extends from the handle to the connectingrod. The arm 38, after extending upward through the cover 12 is bent ata right angle, as shown at 47, this portion being parallel with the topof the case or cover, and at a point centrally above the case the part47 is bent forward at a right angle, as shown at 48, and the extremityof this portion 48 is inclined on one side, as shown at 49, so that theincline will pass readily by the match in the blocks 37. On thisforwardly-projecting portion 48 are pivoted parallel jaws 50, thesebeing arranged on opposite sides of the part 48, which part serves as afixed jaw, and the jaws 50 have reduced rear ends 51 which enable themto be conveniently clasped by a spring. The lower faces of the jaws areinclined near their free ends, as shown at 52 in Fig. 2, thisinclination being opposite to theinclined surface 49 of the fixed jaw,so that a match may be wedged inward between the fixed and the movablejaws. The jaws 50 have curved upwardly-extendingrecesses at the innerterminals of the inclined faces 52, these recesses being adapted toreceive and carry a match, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The jaws50 are pressed downward upon the fixed jaw by a spring 55 which extendsabove the shanks 51 of the jaws 50, and which is coiled around thepivots of the jaws, as shown at 56, and then extends downward onopposite sides of the jaws and beneath the fixed jaw, as shown at 57.The down ward movement of the movablejaws is limited by the stops 54,which are produced on the movable jaws and adapted to engage the fixedjaw.

It will be seen that when a match is raised by the carrier jaws thetendency would be for the scratcher to force it out, and this isobviated by an abutment 58 which is arranged vertically within the case10 and next the front wall of the case, and the inner surface of theabutment is curved to correspond approximately with the are described bythe carrier jaws.

The scratcher is arranged in the path of the match heads and near oneside of the abutment 58, this scratcher comprises a suitable back 59 anda rough scratching surface 60, which is arranged to strike the heads ofthe matches. The scratcher is arranged at an angle to the matches, asbest shownin Fig. 5, so that matches of dilferent lengths may be ignitedwhen raised by the carrier, theshorter matches striking its roughenedsurface near one edge and the longer matches extending over at a pointnear the opposite end. The scratcher may be held rigidly in place, butit is preferably arranged so as to yield and so as to be tilted out ofthe way when necessary in order that an unlighted match may bedelivered. To this end the back 59 is pivoted at the bottom and isrecessed, as shown at 61, in which recess is held a spiral spring 62which is coiled around the pivot 63 of the scratcher, and the spring hasits free end 64 extended upward and held to press against the back 59,and its other end held against the case 10, so as to hold the scratcherin position to ignite a match. The lower end of the scratcher back hasan outwardly-extending handle 65, which moves in a slot in the case 10,and if an unlighted match is to be too ITO

delivered, the handle is depressed soas to swing the scratcher out ofthe path of the match.

The operation of the match-delivering and igniting mechanism is asfollows: The matches are placed in the match box within the case 10, theheads of the matches being all one way and at the end of the box inwhich the scratcher is located. The handle 23 is depressed, and thiscauses the pick 17 to swing downward and the jaws of the pick to swinginto the match box and engage a match; at the same time the connectingrod 42 pulls downward on the carrier arm 38 and'causes the carrier toswing downward through the slot 41 and into the bottom of the match case10. But at this first movement of the carrier there will be no matchforit to receive. The handle 23 is then released and it is raised by thespring 26; this also swings up the pick 17 to its normal position, andthe elbow of the pick, formed at the junction of the parts and 21, (seeFig. 2) strikes the swinging plate or pawl 30 and swings the plateupward and forward, thus swinging forward the guide arms 36, as shownclearly in Fig. 2. Near the limit of its stroke the jaws of the pickpass between the arms 33 of the bracket 32, and these arms push thematch from the jaws of the pick and the match rolls downward over thearms 36, and is dropped into the troughlike top 37 of the blocks 37. Thehandle 23 is again depressed and the pick acts as before, liftinganother match which is deposited in the blocks 37, but before saidsecond match 53 of the jaws 50, being held therein by the pressure ofthe spring '55. When the handle- 23 is released the pick and carrierboth swing upward, the movement of the pick causing the second match tobe deposited, as described above, and the upward movement of the carriercausing the match head to pass over the roughened surface of thescratcher, thus igniting the match which is delivered above the caseready foruse. During the upward movement of the carrier, the match isprevented from being accidentally discharged from the jaws by theabutment 58 on which the movable jaws 5O slide. When the handle ispressed down, if the match box is full, the pick will strike as shown inFig. 3, and the carrier will strike against the case bottom, so that itcannot go any further, but if the matches are low under the pick, thehandle can be pressed down to the bottom of the box to pick the lastmatch it necessary, as the stud 44 will The slide through the slot 45 inthe rod 42. pressure of the spring 55, while being sufficiently strongto hold the match in place, is yet light enough, so that a person maygrasp the match and easily pull it from between the carrier jaws. Itwill be seen that after the first movement of the handle 23, a matchwill always be in place in the blocks 37, so

that but one movement of the handle is necdle 66, which is held to swingin a slot in the front of the case, and the inner end of the handle isjournaled on the shaft or rod 39 which extends longitudinally throughthe case, as above described. The handle 66'carries a cutter 67, whichis adapted to slide downward alongside of the end wall of the case andopposite the'apertures 68 which are produced in the wall and which areadapted to receive the tip of a cigar. It will be seen then that byinserting the tip in one of the holes and then depressing the handle,the tip is cut off by the cutter, after which it drops into a box 69which-is arranged ready to receive it. A spring 70, similar to thespring 26 described above, is coiled around the shaft 39, the springhaving one end 71 arranged 'to extend parallel with the handle-andformed into a hook 72 which engages the under side of the handle, andthe opposite end of .the spring extends downward and abuts with the backwall of the case 10. It will be seen then that when the handle isdepressed the spring will return it to its normal position afterpressure on the handle is removed. of the case 10 has a hole 74 in thetop above thebox 69, so that burned matches may be dropped through intothe box if desired.

It will be understood that the match-delivering and igniting mechanismmay be used independently of the cigar cutter, but the two devices arepreferably combined, as a person usually desires to light a cigar at thesame time he cuts off the tip.

Having thus described my invention,l claim as new, anddesire to secureby Letters Patent,-

1. A match safe, comprising an outer case, a match box arranged withinthe case, a swinging pick held to swing within the case and adapted toraise matches from the box,

The cover IIO supports arranged beneath the pick and I adapted toreceive a match when dropped by the pick, a swinging carrier held toswing through a slot in the top of the case and.

ter, a swinging carrier held to move through a slot in the case top andadapted to raise the match dropped by the pick, a scraper arranged inthe path of the match raised by the carrier, and a handle adapted tosimultaneously operate the pick and carrier, substantially as described.

3. A match safe, comprising an inclosing case having a slotted top, amatch box arranged within the case and provided with an inclined bottomand a front opening, a swinging pick arranged to enter the opening inthe box and having jaws to engage a match, push arms arranged above thebox opening and adapted to push a match from the jaws,movable inclinedguide arms adapted to extend above the box opening and prevent thereturn of a match, mechanism for moving the arms by the movement of thepick, receiving blocks arranged beneath the guide arms, a swingingcarrier held to move through a slot in the case and adapted to pick amatch from the receiving blocks, a scratcher arranged in the path of thematch head raised by the carrier, and a handle adapted to simultaneouslyoperate the carrier and pick, substantially as described.

4.. In a match safe, the combination of the inclined match box having afront opening, the swinging pick having a bent free end with terminaljaws adapted to enter the opening and pick up a match, the push armsarranged in the path of the pick-raised match and adjacent to the jaws,a swinging plate or pawl arranged in front of and in the path of thepick, and guide arms carried by the pawl and adapted to swing in unisontherewith so as to prevent the return of a match to the match box,substantially as described.

5. In a match safe, the combination of the match pick mechanism,mechanism for discharging the match, the spaced receiving blocks havingtrough-like upper portions adapted to receive the match from thedischarging mechanism, and the swinging carrier adapted to move downwardbetween the receiving blocks, the carrier having separable jaws adaptedto clasp the match, substantially as described.

6. In a match safe, the combination of the match supporting blocks,mechanism for delivering the match into or upon the blocks, and aswinging carrier held to move downward between the blocks and upwardabove the match safe, the carrier having separable spring-pressed jawswith recesses to engage and hold the match, substantially .as described.

7. In a match safe, the combination of the match case having a slottedtop, the match box arranged within the case, the swinging pick adaptedto enter the box and raise a match, mechanism for discharging the matchfrom the pick, carrying mechanism adapted to swing through the slottedcase top and engage the match discharged from the pick, a swinging armheld to support the carrier, a spring-pressed handle pivotally andoperatively connected with the pick, and a connecting rod extending fromthe handle to the carrier-arm, substantially as described.

8. In a match safe, the combination of the case having a slotted top,the swinging carrier held to move through the top and provided withseparable match-holding jaws, and the abutment secured within the caseand adapted to press against the carrier jaws, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a match safe, the combination of the slotted topped case, havingamatch receptacle therein and the picker in the case'to raise one matchat a time from the receptacle and drop it in the case, with the swingingcarrier held to move through the slot and adapted to raise a match fromwhere it was dropped by the picker and carry to the outside of the case,and the scraper having an inclined roughened face adapted to engage thematch head, substantially as described.

10. The combination of the case having a slotted top, a swinging matchcarrier adapted to swing through the slot in the case top, and having afixed jaw lth-49 and spring pressed jaws 50 at opposite sides thereofand provided with match receiving recesses 53 and thetiltin gspring-pressed scratcher adapted to engage a match head, substantiallyas described.

11. The combination of the main case, the match-carrying mechanismarranged therein and adapted to deliver a match from the case top, theinclined swinging scratcher held in the path of the match, and ahandleproduced on the scratcher and leading through a slot in the case,whereby to retract the scratcher out of the path of the matchsubstantially as described.

GEORGE F. II. HICKS.

YVitnesscs:

WILLIAM J. CONLIN, FRANK H. Mans.-

